The Post University sprint football team begins its fourth season of play in less than two weeks. The Eagles appear poised to compete for the championship of the Collegiate Sprint Football League for players weighing 172 pounds or less.

Post won its final five games of the season last year to finish third with a 5-2 record. This year, the Eagles seem to have more talent, more veteran leadership and a full schedule of home games (four) for the first time. They return 23 players, including 14 starters, from last year.

Whether that is enough to take another step forward remains to be seen. Army and Navy — the two teams that beat Post last season — have dominated the CSFL for decades with 67 titles between them.

Here are five questions that need to be answered by the Eagles:

1. Is one of the Eagles' freshman quarterbacks ready to lead the team to a title?

Post has the makings of a potent offense. For the first time, it will open a season with five returning starters on the line, and it arguably has the best receiving corps in the conference.

In addition to returning first-team All-CSFL receiver Dan Awwad (Holy Cross), the Eagles return second-team receiver Jay'Len Mahan (Wilby) and second-team tight end Rashaun Reid (Derby). The team has also added a potential Division I receiver in Dave Coggins (Sacred Heart). Coach Mike Mannetti said freshmen Rocco Guerrera (Watertown) and Jarrick Sharp (Virginia) also have a chance to make an impact.

Unfortunately, it's unclear if any of the team's four rookie quarterbacks can get the receivers the ball.

Javon Martin (Sacred Heart) has earned the starting role for the opener, and Greg Volpe (North Haven) is his backup. Early in camp, they were both pushed by Dean Bickley of Georgia, but Martin appears to be the most ready. Whether he can get over freshman jitters and is poised enough to lead remains to be seen.

2. How much impact will the home games have?

The team finished 5-2 last year despite not playing a single home game. The Eagles have never played a home game on their new field on campus. It is certainly possible that with four of their seven games on campus this season, the added familiarity, comfort and energy could provide a big boost.

3. What will it mean to have veteran leadership?

Their first two years, the Eagles were basically all freshmen and sophomores playing against veteran, established programs. Last year, the team played with five seniors, but according to Awwad the team was

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still a group of talented individuals that lacked enough leadership to bring them all together.

This year, the program has 10 seniors who have been in the program long enough to demand respect, to understand what is needed to win and to have paid enough dues to be hungry for a title.

"Even with 42 freshmen, those 10 seniors do a great job," Mannetti said. "We definitely have the veteran leadership we have been missing."

4. Will the Eagles finally have a running game to provide offensive balance?

Over its first three years, the team has relied heavily upon the passing game for most of its offensive success, but traditionally the teams with the best running game have a slight edge in this league.

The Eagles are in a strange situation in that they have the best, most experienced offensive line they have ever had, anchored by first-team all-conference lineman Chris Masayda (Watertown).

Yet, their top three rushers from last season are all gone. In fact, they don't return any running backs. Mannetti is breaking in five new tailbacks and fullback Nick Gambacini (Holy Cross).

"We have some talent at the running back position, but they have to grow up fast," Mannetti said. "We have James Harrington, who transferred from Dean College, and he can really run. He was a stud in track, too, at Danbury High. We've got Kevin Johnson and Renard Whyte, from Georgia, who are both talented, and we have a kid, Bryan Sheppard, from New Jersey. Davon Humbles, from Kennedy, is going to get a chance, too. We've got some studs coming in, guys who can do some damage."

5. Will the defense still be the strength of the team?

The Eagles have been competitive in the past because their defense was solid. They lost the heart of their defensive in middle linebacker Kyle Lagasse. Stepping in for him will be defensive captain Matt Murphy (Sacred Heart).

"We have seven starters returning on the defensive side of the ball, including our entire starting defensive line of Josh Guadalupe (New Britain), Anthony Jamele (Holy Cross) and Matthew Santos (Wilby)," Murphy said. "We also have our two starting outside linebackers coming back with Shaquille Williams (Florida) and Chris Lopez (Wilby), along with an all-conference safety in David Boyle (Wilby). We have another key senior leader in Brendan McWeeney (Watertown). There is just a lot of leadership on the defensive side of the ball that has been here since day one. I feel our strong point still is the defensive side of the ball."

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